I vividly recall my first visit, as a boy of twelve, to a big town. I had hardly been outside the confines (边缘) of the village where I was born and I had met and talked to no more than a few hundred people; but those few hundred I knew very well.

Of course we did sometimes see a strange face, but visitors from the outside world, whose coming always aroused great excitement, were few and far between (稀少). When I reached the town that I mentioned I was first overcome by the striking change from the slow and quiet life I had been used to. Surely those swiftly (迅速地) moving vehicles (车辆) must inevitably collide (必然碰撞) with each other----or with us----at any moment, and those tall building collapse (倒坍) and crush (压碎) us all! But I soon forgot those fears and began to notice something even more amazing (令人惊奇的) ----the crowds of people on the pavements (人行道) who were hurrying past each other without a smile. It gradually dawned on me (我渐渐明白) that not only were they not interested in one another; they were strangers, and apparently (明显地) quite content (满意地) to remain so. It was the lack of friendliness among them which most deeply distressed (使痛苦)me.

I know that if we are to profit from the innumerable mechanical inventions (获益于无数机械发明) of this scientific age it is necessary for us to live together in large communities (社区). We are thus enabled (使能够) to provide and enjoy material benefits (利益) which are rarely available (少有的) in small villages----such amenities (令人愉快的事情) as good sanitation (环境卫生), cheap transport (交通), well-stocked (货物贮备充足的) shops----and in addition the very fact of our living together in large numbers makes it possible for us to live a richer social and cultural life. Yet it seems to me that the mechanical inventions demand from ordinary men and women so much of their time and attention that they have none left for their fellow human beings.

When I think of those crowded pavements and of those thousands of people hurrying to and fro (来来往往) apparently with no thought for others I cannot help wondering whether the so-called (所谓的) benefits of civilization (文明) in a mechanical age are not being purchased (购买)at too high a price.

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